An accomplishment of the City Council that has not gotten the attention it deserves is the adoption of the 2022 Sustainable Transportation Plan. The Sustainable Transportation Plan is a new vision for mobility on Bainbridge Island. It promotes walking, bicycling, and public transportation over the use of single-occupancy cars.
The City began working on the plan in late 2019. The plan was developed by a task force of Bainbridge Island residents, City staff, and the firm Nelson Nygaard. The plan was adopted on March 22, 2022, two years after work began.
Developing the plan was the easy part. Staff and the City Council are now thinking and discussing its implementation. When implemented, the plan hopes to get someone like me to reduce the number of miles driven and increase the number of miles that alternative transportation is used.
You will be hearing more about plan in the future. Meanwhile, congratulations to all the citizen volunteers who worked on the plan and the City Council for adopting it.
The following is a link: https://www.bainbridgewa.gov/1155/Sustainable-Transportation-Planning-Stud
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Best,
Blair King
City Manager
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Celebrating LGTBQI+ & Pride Month |
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The City Council approved a proclamation that declared the month of June 2022 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month.
The proclamation is consistent with the guiding principles of the City of Bainbridge Island, including fostering the diversity of the residents of the Island.
The proclamation was accepted by Derek Villanueva of Bainbridge Pride. Bainbridge Pride was founded in June 2015, at the time of the first Pride Proclamation by the City of Bainbridge Island. Bainbridge Pride continues to bring together the diverse LGBTQI+ residents of the City for fellowship and support.
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Recognizing Juneteenth on Bainbridge Island |
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2022 is the first year that Juneteenth is an official federal and Washington State holiday and is also recognized on Bainbridge Island.
The City Council approved a proclamation declaring June 19 as the day to celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday which Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and celebrates the successes gained through education and greater opportunity.
The proclamation was read by Deputy Mayor Fantroy Johnson and accepted by Justice Brown, a sophomore at Bainbridge High School.
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Juneteenth Celebration - Sunday, June 19 at Waterfront Park |
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Please join us at the Bainbridge Juneteenth Community Celebration on June 19 at the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center and Waterfront Park on Sunday, June 19th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
The event will include speakers from Bainbridge’s Black Community, West African Food from Aunt Dolly’s for purchase, Black music streaming, a free exhibit and general celebration.
The event is being hosted by the City of Bainbridge Island Race Equity Advisory Committee in collaboration with Bainbridge Black, Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union 3000.
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Calling all rookies to Ride Transit Month! |
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June is a great time to take public transit!
It can seem daunting to try something new, but taking the bus is easy to do! First time taking a ride with Kitsap Transit? Check out their video library with tips and tricks for finding the right bus, using the app, putting a bike on a bus and more.
You can also get real-time information and alerts on your phone about Kitsap Transit's fixed-route bus and ferry services – and see how soon your ride will arrive at your stop – with the Kitsap Transit Tracker. For on-demand bus services like BI Ride, you can get real time updates with the Ride Pingo app.
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New Brooklyn & Sportsman Club intersection improvement project to begin next week |
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Work on the New Brooklyn/Sportsman Club intersection improvement project will begin on June 22.
To avoid impacts during the school year, the contractor will now have the full summer to accomplish the reconfiguration of lanes, the addition of sidewalks and approaching roadway shoulders, which are all scheduled to be completed prior to school reconvening in early September.
The project will increase safety for school students, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized users crossing at this junction.
Traffic control detours and signage will be coordinated with the return of this year’s Rotary Auction to lessen the impacts. After July 4th the entirety of NE New Brooklyn Road from Sportsman Club Road NE to NE Grizdale Lane will be closed in both directions. The contractor has been selected and the project bid came in under budget.
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Compliance with local shade covenant discussed |
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In 2004, the City agreed with a neighboring property owner to control the height of trees on two City-owned parcels, the Crawford and M&E properties. The agreement states that trees should not be allowed to grow taller than 30' high on the northern ends of the properties, in order to prevent shading the adjacent land, which is used for agriculture.
Since the beginning of 2022, the City has been gathering information about options to comply with this agreement. After an introductory briefing on June 14, it's expected that staff will bring Council options for how to move forward before the end of July.
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Roadside striping has begun |
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Every year the City repaints the island’s road centerlines and edge fog lines to maintain lane visibility and road safety. This year’s annual road striping contract was awarded to Strip Rite, Inc. totaling nearly $178,000.
Work under the contract will include about 86 miles of centerline paint applied to City roads. Another approximately 100 miles of white fog edge line paint will be applied. Work has already begun and will continue later in the summer for dry weather application.
This fresh paint will help provide visual cues for separation between vehicles and cyclists, pedestrians and other non-motorized users.
Please share the roads and stay safe!
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Fourth of July fireworks ban |
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As we look forward to a fun and safe Fourth of July holiday, we want to remind everyone that fireworks are prohibited on Bainbridge Island per ordinance (BIMC 8.28). This includes sparklers, Roman candles, rockets, cones, and firecrackers.
On the Fourth of July, concerned citizens can call 9-1-1 to report illegal fireworks or any of the following:
- Someone injured from a firework
- A fire started by a firework
- You witness someone attempting to start a fire with a firework
- You witness someone assaulting someone with a firework
Between July 1 through July 4, during the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., nuisance fireworks complaints can be made by calling the Bainbridge police department directly at 206-842-5211. Calls that include a specific location where fireworks are being discharged will be prioritized over those reporting a general area.
Bainbridge police will be out in the community and available to assist as needed throughout the holiday weekend.
We appreciate your cooperation as we work to keep everyone in our community safe.
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The next scheduled City Council Regular Business Meeting will be on June 28. Key topics include:
- Introduce the consulting team who is preparing the Housing Action Plan
- Consider recommendation to purchase a piece of public art (Cardinal Connection)
Ways to Watch
- In-person at the City Hall City Council Chambers
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City website livestream (visit the Agendas & Minutes page, then click on "In Progress" when the meeting starts)
- BKAT (Channel 12 on Comcast & Channel 3 on WAVE
The public is invited to contact members of the City Council to express concerns, questions and praise. Some council members are holding virtual office hours and others are available to meet upon request.
Please visit the City Council page for more information on individual City Council members.
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City Selected for Clean Energy Transition Program |
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The ETIPP Community Technical Assistance program helps remote, island, and islanded communities transform their energy systems and increase energy resilience.
The City’s application requested technical assistance to analyze the feasibility and associated costs of renewable energy options like solar and water power to move the city towards our goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2040, and to increase the resilience of our electric systems on the island, per actions outlined in our 2020 Climate Action Plan. The City’s ETIPP project will take place over the next 12-18 months. The City’s Climate Officer will be reaching out to community members and organizations for input throughout the technical assistance process.
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June 19, 1 - 3 p.m. Juneteenth Celebration at the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center at Waterfront Park
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Monday, June 20 City Hall closed in observance of Juneteenth
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